Entertainment from Divorce

Chen Ziyu puffed up his cheeks and swallowed a mouthful of crab roe, saying with a chuckle, "It's so delicious! This soup is even more delicious than the lotus root starch dumplings I had in Xinjie yesterday!"

As she spoke, she picked up a piece of hot dried bean curd with chopsticks and handed it to Tan Yue, "Try it, the knife skills are amazing, it's as thin as a hair!"

The morning light shines through the carved window lattices onto the table, making the green color of the emerald steamed buns even more transparent.

Chen Ziyu bit into the steamed buns, revealing the emerald green vegetable filling and dots of lard. "So 'emerald' refers to green vegetables!" She muttered as she ate. "Tan Yue, let's learn how to make it when we get home, so we don't have to worry about breakfast anymore."

Chen Ziyu ate breakfast tea from early morning to noon. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his round belly. "No wonder they say Weiyang breakfast tea can take a whole morning. These snacks look small, but they are so filling!"

After Tan Yue paid the bill, he took her by the hand and walked towards the Slender West Lake. On the way, they passed a time-honored pickle shop. Chen Ziyu insisted on buying a few cans of Sanhe Simei pickles to take back, "They will definitely taste great with porridge!"

After walking for about twenty minutes, the south gate of Slender West Lake appeared in front of us.

On the archway with black tiles and white walls, the three big characters "Slender West Lake" are vigorous and powerful.

Chen Ziyu took a selfie standing in front of the door. There were crowds of tourists behind her, but she seemed to have a soft light filter, and her smile was brighter than the white flowers in the sun.

As soon as he entered the scenic area, Chen Ziyu was attracted by the weeping willows by the lake.

The willow branches in June have grown lush, and the tender green leaves sway gently in the wind, brushing across the lake and creating ripples.

"Look!" She pulled Tan Yue to the lakeside, "Is this the 24 bridges in '24 Bridges on a Moonlit Night'?" Tan Yue looked down at the guide map, "No, that bridge is in the north. What we are seeing now is the wooden bridge in Linglong Flower Realm."

Walking along the lakeside path, Chen Ziyu was like a happy little bird, stopping from time to time to take pictures.

She took pictures of the blooming peonies, the koi swimming in the water, and also secretly took pictures of Tan Yue's focused profile as he looked up at the White Pagoda.

When passing by Xichuntai, they happened to catch a guzheng performance. Chen Ziyu pulled Tan Yue to sit down on the steps. Listening to the melodious sound of the zither and looking at the Wuting Bridge in the distance, his eyes gradually softened.

"Tan Yue, do you think that when the ancient emperors went to the south of the Yangtze River, they also strolled leisurely like us?" Chen Ziyu suddenly asked. Tan Yue reached out and tidied her hair that was messed up by the wind. "Maybe he brought a painter with him to paint all the beautiful scenery he saw." He paused and said, "But in my eyes, no matter how beautiful the painting is, it can't compare to you."

Chen Ziyu's cheeks flushed, and he punched him lightly, "You're just a chatterbox."

Having said that, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise.

The two continued walking forward, passing by a cruise ship dock. Chen Ziyu's eyes lit up: "Let's take a boat! It must be different to see Slender West Lake from the water!"

When we boarded the pleasure boat, the boatman enthusiastically introduced the scenic spots along the way.

The boat slowly sailed away from the dock, and the outline of Wuting Bridge became clearer and clearer.

Chen Ziyu lay on the side of the boat, reached out to touch the water, and the cold lake water flowed over his fingertips.

The sun shines on the lake, making it sparkle. In the distance, Fuzhuang appears and disappears, like a fairyland.

"Look over there!" Tan Yue pointed to the shore, where several egrets were gracefully flying across the water. "They look like they flew out of a Tang Dynasty poem."

Chen Ziyu took out his mobile phone to record the video. In the camera, the white wings of the egret, the turquoise lake water, the vermilion bridge railings, and Tan Yue's smiling profile formed a beautiful picture.

When the boat reached the Twenty-Four Bridges, Chen Ziyu excitedly stood up to take pictures.

This single-arch bridge made of white marble has a beautiful shape, and the railings on both sides of the bridge are carved with exquisite patterns.

"On a moonlit night under the Twenty-Four Bridges, where can the beautiful lady teach me how to play the flute..." Chen Ziyu recited the poem softly, his eyes full of longing, "If we come at night, it will definitely be more beautiful with the moonlight."

After getting off the boat, the two went to the Garden of Flowers.

At this time, the magnolias in the garden were in full bloom, with eight small white flowers clustered together like a crystal jade plate.

Chen Ziyu shuttled among the flowers, her skirt sweeping across the tender green grass, startling a few butterflies.

Tan Yue stood in the distance and quietly took a picture of this scene - in the camera, Chen Ziyu's smile was brighter than the white magnolia, and there was a petal in her hair.

Nearing noon, Chen Ziyu was finally tired from walking, and the two of them rested in the pavilion by the lake.

Tan Yue took out the osmanthus cake he bought in the morning from his backpack and handed a piece to Chen Ziyu.

"Delicious!" Chen Ziyu took a bite, and the fragrance of osmanthus spread on the tip of his tongue. "I should have bought a few more pieces earlier."

She turned to look at Tan Yue, "You say, it would be nice if we could live here for a while, have breakfast every morning, and visit Slender West Lake in the afternoon?"

Tan Yue put his arm around her shoulders and said, "Let's stay here for a few days every year and see the magnolias in spring, the lotus in summer, the ginkgo in autumn, and the wintersweets in winter." He lowered his head and kissed her forehead gently, "As long as I'm with you, anywhere is home."

Outside the pavilion, willow branches are swaying gently and the lake is flowing slowly.

The sound of a cruise ship's whistle came from afar, startling a flock of gulls and herons.

Chen Ziyu leaned on Tan Yue's shoulder, listening to his steady heartbeat, and suddenly felt that this moment was worth cherishing for a lifetime.

As they strolled along the long embankment lined with willows, the sun had quietly climbed up to the zenith.

Chen Ziyu's shoes made a creaking sound as they stepped on the cobblestone road, and suddenly stopped in front of an old shop with a "Lion Head" sign.

"This is the one! The guide says that their family has been doing this for three generations." She pulled Tan Yue's sleeve and went into the store. The sunlight leaking through the wooden lattice windows cast mottled shadows on her cheongsam.

The store is filled with the aroma of meat and rice wine.

Seeing that they were a young couple, the proprietress smiled and led them to the eight-immortal table by the window: "Young couple, would you like to try our signature dish? Braised lion's head with Weiyang fried rice, and a large plate of boiled dried shredded vegetables?"

Chen Ziyu nodded with shining eyes. Tan Yue caught a glimpse of her secretly swallowing her saliva and couldn't help laughing out loud.

The first dish to be served was the boiled dried shredded vegetables.

In the white porcelain bowl, hair-thin dried tofu is soaked in milky chicken soup, garnished with shrimp, ham shreds and green pea sprouts.

Chen Ziyu scooped up a spoonful with a silver spoon. The dried shredded vegetables absorbed the soup and were soft, tender and chewy when eaten, with layers of delicious flavor.

"The knife skills are amazing!" She exclaimed, picked up a piece of food with chopsticks, and suddenly passed it to Tan Yue's mouth, "Try it!"

The moment Tan Yue held the dried shredded vegetables in his mouth, she suddenly leaned closer and asked, "Is it salty?"

The warm breath brushed past his ears, his ears turned red, and he nodded randomly.

The lady boss happened to see this scene when she came over with the lion's head. She smiled so hard that wrinkles appeared on the corners of her eyes: "This lion's head should be eaten while it's hot. Our secret is to add chopped water chestnuts, which gives it a special taste."

In the casserole, the lion's head as big as a fist lies in the clear soup, with a golden and shiny surface.

Chen Ziyu gently cut it with a spoon, and the crystal clear water chestnuts were revealed in the fat and lean meat filling.

She took a bite, the aroma of soft and glutinous meat mixed with the sweetness of water chestnuts, the soup slid down the corners of her mouth, and she hurriedly wiped it with a handkerchief.

Tan Yue suddenly reached out his hand and brushed the corner of her lips with his fingertips. His action was so natural as if he had done it thousands of times.

When the Weiyang fried rice was served, Chen Ziyu was already half full. The amber rice grains were distinct, wrapped with the golden color of the egg, the pink of the shrimp, and the emerald green of the green beans.

She scooped up a spoonful and found that even the diced ham was cut into diamond shapes.

"Ayue, do you think they hide their romance in food?" she suddenly said, "Even fried rice is so particular."

The willow branches outside the window brushed against the glass, casting tiny shadows.

Tan Yue looked at the rice on her cheek and reached out to remove it for her, but she suddenly grabbed his wrist and said, "Let me take a picture of you!"

She raised her cell phone. In the camera, Tan Yue was wearing a navy blue shirt, with steaming Weiyang delicacies in front of him and the spring scenery outside the window.

At the moment the "click" sound was heard, the old lady at the next table smiled and said, "Girl, you took such beautiful photos."

Chen Ziyu handed the phone to the old lady, who smiled from ear to ear: "It's great to be young. When my husband and I were young, we also loved to eat and travel around like this." She pointed to the crab meat tofu on the table, "We eat this dish every spring."

Chen Ziyu turned to look at Tan Yue, who was concentrating on picking out the crab shells from the crab roe tofu.

The sun fell on his eyelashes, casting a small shadow.

She suddenly remembered a similar scene last winter - he helped her pick out the shrimp threads from the shrimp paste in a hot pot restaurant.

After the meal, Chen Ziyu walked along the moat to digest the food. Touching his round belly, he sighed, "It's over. I'm going to gain three pounds this time."

Tan Yue suddenly stopped and took out an oil-paper package from his pocket. "I know you haven't eaten enough." He unfolded the oil-paper package, revealing two jade-shaped steamed buns with the green glutinous rice filling faintly visible.

Chen Ziyu took it with surprise and took a bite. The soft glutinous rice was mixed with the aroma of lard and the hint of shrimp.

"When did you buy it?" she asked vaguely while holding a steamed bun in her mouth.

Tan Yue reached out and wiped the crumbs from the corner of her mouth: "You were watching the process of making crab roe soup dumplings."

Talking and laughing along the way, they arrived at Ming Temple.

Walking into Ming Temple, you will see towering ancient trees and a quiet and peaceful environment.

In the main hall, incense smoke curls up and believers kneel down and pray devoutly.

Chen Ziyu and Tan Yue also followed the crowd and made good wishes in front of the Buddha statue.

Walking out of the Main Hall, they strolled along the winding path. The peach blossoms on the roadside were in full bloom, pink and tender, like clouds in the sky.

"So beautiful!" Chen Ziyu couldn't help but take out his cell phone and take a lot of pictures of the peach blossoms.

Tan Yue stood aside, looking at her cute appearance, his eyes full of doting. "Xiaoxiao, let me take a few photos of you. You can't miss such a beautiful scenery."

Tan Yue took Chen Ziyu's phone and took pictures of her seriously.

Chen Ziyu posed in various postures under the peach tree, and her smile was brighter than the peach blossoms.

"Ayue, look over there!" Chen Ziyu suddenly shouted, pointing at a pavilion not far away.

Tan Yue looked in the direction she pointed, and saw several elderly people in the pavilion leisurely drinking tea and chatting.

"Let's go and take a look." Tan Yue took Chen Ziyu's hand and came to the pavilion.

The old people greeted them warmly, and Chen Ziyu asked curiously: "Grandpa, do you often come here to drink tea?"

A white-haired old man smiled and said, "Yes, we are all old Weiyang people. Ming Temple is a place we often visit. It is quiet here and the air is good. Sitting here drinking tea and chatting, it feels like all the troubles of the day are gone."

Another old man continued, "Little girl, you are traveling from other places, right? Weiyang has many fun places. How many days do you plan to stay?"

Chen Ziyu said: "We plan to play for four or five days, Grandpa, do you have any good recommendations?"

The elders introduced things to them enthusiastically, from the Twenty-Four Bridges in Slender West Lake, to the Four Seasons Rockery in Geyuan Garden, to the delicious snacks in Xinjie Street. Chen Ziyu and Tan Yue smiled knowingly, as they knew their strategy was right.

After leaving the pavilion, Chen Ziyu said with emotion: "The people in Weiyang are so enthusiastic. It feels so warm."

Tan Yue said: "This is the charm of Weiyang, not only the scenery is beautiful, but also the people are beautiful."

They continued to tour Ming Temple and came to the West Garden.

In the West Garden, the pavilions, towers, bridges and flowing water are like an exquisite ink painting.

Chen Ziyu and Tan Yue strolled along the corridor, admiring the beautiful scenery in the garden, stopping from time to time to savor it.

Tan Yue held her hand and said, "If we have a chance in the future, we can come and live here for a while and experience the life in Weiyang."

Before we knew it, the sun was setting and a gorgeous sunset glow appeared on the horizon.

Only then did Chen Ziyu and Tan Yue reluctantly leave Ming Temple.

"I had so much fun today. I didn't expect Mingsi to be so interesting." Chen Ziyu said with great satisfaction.

Tan Yue said: "There will be something more exciting next. I will take you to Xin Street to eat delicious food in the evening."

When Chen Ziyu heard this, his eyes lit up immediately and he said excitedly, "Okay, okay."

As night falls and the lights come on, Xinjie becomes bustling with activity.

The quaint streets are brightly lit and bustling with people.

There are all kinds of shops on both sides of the street, including traditional handicraft shops, special snack stalls, as well as old bookstores and teahouses.

Chen Ziyu and Tan Yue walked hand in hand on the new street, feeling the strong atmosphere of life.

"Wow, it smells so good!" Chen Ziyu was attracted by the aroma and pulled Tan Yue to a stall selling stinky tofu.

"Boss, give me a serving of stinky tofu." Chen Ziyu said impatiently.

After a while, the steaming stinky tofu was served. The golden and crispy skin was poured with a special sauce and sprinkled with chopped green onions and coriander, which made people salivate at the sight.

Chen Ziyu picked up the bamboo skewer and took a careful bite. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, spicy and delicious, instantly igniting his taste buds.

"Mm, it's delicious! Tan Yue, try it." Chen Ziyu handed the stinky tofu to Tan Yue's mouth. Tan Yue also tasted it and nodded in praise: "It's really good, the taste is very authentic."

After eating the stinky tofu, they continued walking forward. Along the way, Chen Ziyu wanted to eat everything and play with everything he saw.

I was attracted by the sugar paintings on the roadside and stopped to watch the master making them.
After a while, I was attracted by the exquisite accessories in a hand-woven shop and spent a long time choosing.

Tan Yue patiently accompanied her and helped her carry various snacks and souvenirs. (End of this chapter)